affordable homes
development awards
investment to the village
CLT members
phase coming soon
Reasons why this development is so special
- A truly community-led development
- Includes a community orchard
- The first scheme in the Peak District National Park to be built with the involvement of a Community Land Trust
- Built to high environmental standards achieving Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4
- Multi award-winning scheme
The story
Youlgrave is one of the most popular villages in the Peak District, attracting holidaymakers and commuters to Sheffield and Manchester, resulting in high property prices and little chance for local young people to make their homes in the village.
This situation was recognised by a group of local people who, working with Peak District Rural Housing Association and Derbyshire Dales DC, formed the Youlgrave Community Land Trust (CLT) to take advantage of government funding for community-led groups in addressing the issue. The Youlgrave CLT has around 200 members.
A housing needs survey carried out in 2007 indicated a need for at least nine affordable homes in the village and that any scheme should include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes to reflect the needs of the community. The survey was repeated in 2012 and the results confirmed the same need.
What the village wanted
The Trust wanted to create a more self-sufficient village with an ever-smaller carbon footprint and affordable community housing so local young people could continue to live there.
They wanted to ensure that their village maintained its strong sense of community; that their diverse population was able to live and work in the village and have access to the local services that meet its needs.
All for local people
And this development has delivered all that and more. The eight homes, managed by Peak District Rural Housing Association, are all occupied by people who have a minimum ten-year local connection to the village.
The design
The design of the homes reflects the character of local building traditions and architecture. The development sensitively steps up the hillside, in keeping with the village feel.
The bespoke design ensures that the new buildings fitted in well with their surroundings. This was achieved by:
- building the homes from local natural limestone
- gritstone sills and lintels
- using timber windows
- using Staffordshire blue clay roof tiles
- gable depth and house heights match the scale of the older buildings in Youlgrave.
The landscape to the locale is characterised by long runs of stone walling, with additional dry-stone walls being constructed to define boundaries.
Energy efficient homes
Building energy-efficient homes was also high on the design agenda.
Exceeding the regulations at the time, the sustainable design incorporates high levels of insulation and integrated photovoltaic panels.
Community orchard
The scheme includes a community orchard with wildflower meadows and native trees planted to provide a wildlife habitat and a blended landscaping scheme.
The design of this space was consulted closely with the Peak District National Park Authority.
There are eight affordable homes for a mix of rent and shared ownership:
- Four 3-bedroom houses
- Two 2-bedroom houses
- Two 2-bedroom bungalows
Partnership working is at the heart of our development process
Our development partners on this project included:
Youlgrave Community Land Trust
Main contractor: Lindum Construction
Funding:
Derbyshire Dales District Council
Architect: David Gaffney
In total the project has brought about £1.2m of new investment to the village.
The houses also contribute to the wider economic and social life of the village - the school needs children to continue to be viable and the shops, post office and pubs need customers to stay in business.
There was a significant amount of community consultation, with a series of events to discuss the plans with local people.
All the contractors involved in the build actively engaged with the community, through site visits and newsletters. The development was registered with Considerate Constructors Scheme and Lindum Construction, the main contractor, received an excellent score for their efforts in building good relationships with local residents.
The completion of the scheme was celebrated by the whole community in the 2015 well-dressing event, where it was also commended as a positive addition to the community.
The scheme has won numerous awards, including:
East Midlands Region of the Forum for the Built Environment
- Winner: Best residential development of the year
- Winner: Scheme of the year
Peak District National Park Planning Awards
- Commended: Best residential development
Phase two coming soon
A testament to the success of the eight affordable homes, is the community’s support for a second phase of homes.
At December 2025, the CLT and Peak District Rural Housing are in advanced stages of preparing to submit a planning application.
The draft plans have been out for public consultation, and have been well received by the community, the Parish Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, and the Peak District National Park Authority. We hope to hear about a planning decision in early 2026.
The second phase of homes will include a community allotment and electric car charging points.